Phrasal Verbs: To Break

This week,'to break' is the verb used to make our phrasal verbs.  Do you know what they mean?

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Mining Threat to Ancient Afghan Site

Watch the video below from AFP News and answer the following questions.


1.  What is true about this article?

a. The hills are in the West of Afghanistan.
b. There was a Buddhist monastery in the East of Afghanistan.
c. The archaeological dig will be good for the Afghan economy.

2. What is true about the archaeological dig?

a. When it is finished about 80% of the site will remain.
b. When it is finished about 20% of the site will have gone.
c. When it is finished about 20% of the site will remain.

3. What is true about the museum?

a. It is based in Kabul.
b. It will exhibit all the archaeological finds.
c. It is owned by the Chinese. 

For answers and the transcript see below.

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Transcript and Answers

Huge riches lie under these hills in eastern Afghanistan.  Historical treasures from a 4th century Buddhist monastery... and further below, a huge copper ore deposit.  Workers and archaeologists are nearing the end of a hasty excavation before work to extract the mineral begins.

"I was heartbroken when I found out the site is going to be destroyed. I'm very unhappy about it."

A Chinese firm won rights to exploit the mine five years ago.  They're helping fund a dig that’s so far unearthed small villages, temples and more than a thousand Buddhist statues.  Up to 80 percent of the site will eventually be destroyed.  Archaeologists have one more year to document and salvage as much as they can.

"We're going to do 3D scans of all the small chapels, so if we want to remove them, we'll be able to reassemble them by constructing new walls and then installing as well as replacing the wall murals, stupas and sculptures."

 The smaller objects are far easier to take away. From statues to coins, pottery and pieces of jewellery, each day brings new, precious finds.  These are some of the oldest Buddhist artifacts in the world -- and well preserved in Afghanistan's dry, arid climate.

All pieces will remain in the country to be stored or displayed in Kabul Museum.
                   
"I believe getting the copper out is also very important economically for our government but the preservation of culture is our priority. It is very important for us that we have to protect them, we have to preserve them, we have to keep them for the next generation of Afghanistan."

The museum has space to exhibit only a fraction of the site's total haul.  It's an opportunity for Afghans to better understand their rich cultural heritage.  Each artifact represents the country's glorious past but also the sacrifices made in the hope of a more prosperous future.

Answers:

1. b
2. c
3. a

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News Report 26th November 2012

Watch the video below and answer the questions True or False.

1. There were only 250 mountain gorillas left in Africa's, Virunga Mountains.
a. True
b. False

2. Macaon's art requires a lot of skill.
a. True
b. False

3. Marcus Miller and his band performed in Schattdorf, Switzerland.
a. True
b. False

For transcript and answers see below.

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Transcript and Answers

When renowned zoologist Diane Fossey, the inspiration behind the film Gorillas in the Mist, was murdered in 1985 there were just 250 mountain gorillas left in Africa’s Virunga mountains.

But 27 years on, numbers of the gentle giants have doubled, thanks to a group of doctors that her work inspired.

The Gorilla Doctors take care of injured and critically ill gorillas and provide medical treatment and quarantine of orphans, with as many as eight gorillas cared for at any one time.

Starting out with the first Gorilla Doctor, Dr James Foster, the group now employs 16 vets and operates across three countries - the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.

To a lot of men, Japanese artist Macaon has the perfect job and it's not difficult to see why.

He gets to drink beer and soda and then recycles the cans by twisting them into much-loved  superstars from comic books, films and video games.

Macaon transforms the old aluminium into iconic figures like Buzz Lightyear and Woody from Toy Story, a Decepticon from Transformers, a mask of Star Wars villain Darth Vader and video play station hero Super Mario.

While childhood favourite Pikachu from the Pokémon TV series is created using Japanese drinks in a bright golden yellow.

Each can is selected for colour, and painstakingly cut up and bent into position with the skill of an origami master. 

Other examples of the artist's amazing work can be seen on his Japanese website.

Jazz bassist Marcus Miller and 10 members of his band have been injured following a serious bus crash in Switzerland. The driver of the vehicle died in the accident, but none of the other passengers appeared to have life-threatening injuries.

After performing in Monaco on Saturday night, the Marcus Miller Band was en route to the Netherlands, for a gig. Driving down the A2 motorway, near the Swiss town of Schattdorf, the bus reportedly toppled as it went around a bend. The bus was carrying 13 people,the driver, Miller, and  his band and crew. The survivors were all taken to hospital. Miller and two others will soon be released, while others will be kept overnight under observation.

Police confirmed that no other vehicles were involved in the crash but did not give details of the cause of the accident.

Answers:

1. a  True

2. a  True

3. b  False

The End Is Nigh... Except In One French Village

Watch the video below from AFP News and answer the following questions.

1. The mayor is taking the 'End of the World' seriously because:

a. there have already been floods of people in the village

b. he believes there may be some fatalities

2. Patrice sells pictures and videos of UFO's in his shop. True or False

a. True

b. False

3. What is true about Bugarach?

a. It is a place of paranormal interest

b. It is on the mountain

See below for transcript and answers:

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Transcript

Nestled at the foot of the French Pyrenees the tiny village of Bugarach looks sleepy enough, but according to some, this is about the most important place on the face of the earth right now. Lovers of the esoteric believe this mountain is a hotspot for paranormal activity and may be the only place to survive the impending end of the world predicted by some New Age groups for the 21st of December. The village mayor is so worried he’s asked the government to send help in case the area is inundated by UFO hunters seeking refuge.

“The danger is that if this event isn’t taken into account by local authorities, we might find ourselves on the 21st with 5, 10, 20,000 people here in complete anarchy, and we wouldn’t be able to handle them. Plus if people were to climb the mountain in December - that’s very dangerous so we could even have some fatalities.” 

So far the floods of visitors don’t seem to be arriving in great numbers, but plenty of locals are prepared to admit that strange lights and other mysterious phenomena are often seen around the nearby mountain.

“I, myself, have witnessed things I can’t explain, but Bugarach doesn’t have a monopoly on that. We need to wake up, there are things we can’t explain all over the world, it’s not just here.” 

At the local shop, Patrice keeps a collection of mysterious pictures and video captured by residents or visiting hikers. 

“It seems as though it’s not stabilized in space time.” 

Since the mayors call for help, he says, military checkpoints have sprung up on local roads and the hills around the village are now full of men in camouflage gear, leading some to speculate that the military knows more about strange activity on Bugarach than they’re letting on. 

“We’re wondering, since there are flying objects, whether military objects or things that have come from who knows where, then the military must have seen it because everyone sees it. So the question we’re asking ourselves is, whether they might actually be in the process of blocking off the mountain so they can better conduct their own research?” 

Government representatives have now said they are blocking further access to the mountain for public safety reasons. The villagers say they’re just waiting to get back to normal once the 22nd of December comes round, that’s if there is one!

Answers: 

1. b 
2. b 
3. a 

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Phrasal Verbs

This week,'to back' is the verb used to make our phrasal verbs.  Do you know what they mean?

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News Report 19th November 2012

Watch the video below and answer the questions, True or False.

1. Ikea has used political prisoners very recently to make its furniture.
a. True
b. False

2. The Algarve has a high season for tourism.
a. True
b. False

3. Ruth Komuntale went to University in the U.S.

a. True
b. False

For answers and transcript, see below:

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Transcript

Ikea has said it "deeply regrets" the use of political prisoners as forced labour in communist East Germany by some of its suppliers.

The Swedish furniture giant asked accountants Ernst & Young to look into the matter, dating back 25-30 years.

The study indicates that political and criminal prisoners were involved in manufacturing for Ikea suppliers.

It also said that Ikea representatives at the time knew that political prisoners were possibly used.

In the past Ikea had given contracts to the East German government.

Former political prisoners of the feared secret police, said they worked on the furniture, leading to Ikea commissioning the Ernst & Young report in May this year.

Those former prisoners may now expect compensation.

A tornado has hit Portugal's popular holiday hotspot the Algarve, tossing and flipping vehicles - some with people inside - and causing flooding in areas.

Hundreds of people have been left homeless, trees uprooted, balconies, roof tiles and framework ripped off, and windows shattered as the violent winds struck the region.

Eight people were injured and taken to hospital for treatment. Firefighters said most of those injured had to be pulled out of overturned vehicles.

The Algarve is a popular tourism destination, although November is low season.

Tornadoes are not common in Europe, but do occur occasionally in the northwest and south of the continent.

An African princess may not have come to America to find a man to marry, but she did just that, after falling for an American accountant. The two wed last Saturday.

Ugandan Princess Ruth Komuntale, 23, graduated from American University in Washington D.C. last year. Her fiance, 30-year-old Christopher Thomas, works at the Discovery Channel in nearby Silver Spring. He proposed at a local Ruth’s Chris Steak House, according to an article on American University's alumni news site.

In Uganda, the princess’s life is dissected in tabloids and her face often graces magazine covers. In D.C., she kept her royal status quiet and cautiously began getting to know her American beau, according to the American University article.

It wasn’t until their engagement that the Missouri native truly became aware of the princess’s role in Uganda’s Toro kingdom.

Answers:

1. b

2. a

3. a

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Pretoria's Jacaranda Trees Are An 'Alien' Problem

Watch the video below from AFP News and answer the following questions.

1.  Which of the following statements is true of Pretoria?

a. It grew from a mining town.

b. It has always been a big city.

c. All of the Jacaranda trees have grown wild in the city.

2. Which of the following statements is true about Jacaranda trees?

a. They have always been native to South Africa.

b. They grow in Brazil.

c. They don't need much water.

3. Which of the statements does Alexander Wildervank agree with?

a. The tree should be saved as it's very beautiful.

b. The wood is a good alternative to pine.

c. The tree should NOT be replanted.

See below for transcript and answers:

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Transcript

The host of Jacaranda trees that line the streets of Pretoria explain its nickname, ‘the Jacaranda City’, but they’re not native to South Africa.  These trees were imported from Brazil over 120 years ago just as South Africa’s gold rush was beginning.

“Gold was discovered in Johannesburg in 1887, so these first Jacarandas came when Johannesburg was still a little mining town, so the first Jacarandas are older than Johannesburg itself.”

Today there are 70,000 Jacaranda trees in Pretoria, half of which were planted by the city council, but in recent years they’ve caused problems forcing the government to take action.

“You have to replace the Jacaranda with indigenous trees because it has to be using a lot of water and because of where they grow.  Normally you can’t grow anything like ground cover, or any plants underneath these Jacaranda.”

The government now classifies Jacarandas as alien invasive plants and has banned them from being replanted.  That’s bad news for woodworkers like Alexander Wildervank who like to use the Jacaranda instead of pine

“It is a pity because it’s a beautiful tree to see, but on the other hand, like Black Wattle, it’s a lovely tree but if it starts, you know, messing up your ground water and things like that, I think that’s more important.”

Despite the nation- wide ban Pretoria’s tree lovers have successfully fought for exemption.  New Jacaranda trees can still be planted in the city centre, in spots where previous trees have died.

They’ll be fewer ‘alien plants’ elsewhere in South Africa but they’ll continue to flower in the country’s Jacaranda City.

Answers:

1.  a

2.  b

3.  b

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Ivory Coast Footballer Uses Sport To Get Kids In School

Watch the video below about the Cissé Institute and answer the following questions:

1. Who receives free training at the Cissé Institute? Choose the  

    best answer.

a. All children.

b. Children who are good at football.

c. Children who are clever.

2. What is true about Soulemane Cissé?

a. He was a professional footballer.

b. He came from a disadvantaged background

c. He believes that football is the most important thing.

3. What is true about the Cissé Institute? Choose the best answer.

a. It believes all children should be educated.

b. Everyone becomes a professional footballer.

c. They teach plumbing and electrics.

Scroll down for transcript and answers to these questions.

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Transcript

This is a football club with a difference.  Here at the Cissé Institute in the Yopougon area of Abidjan, young people aged 9 to 18 receive free training from former professional footballer, Souleymane Cissé.  He founded this centre with his own money and a clear idea of what he wanted to achieve.

“The most important thing for me isn’t football - I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - the most important thing isn’t football, its school.”

Even if students are primarily chosen for their ball skills, they must also maintain good grades to keep their place and as many are from disadvantaged backgrounds, financial help is available to fund places.

“I see many children who come from poor areas who have a real passion for football.  I said to myself, ‘Why not use that to get the kids to stay on the path to school?’, because many don’t go, they’re from poor backgrounds, so I said to myself, ‘Use football as a means to get them to go to school’.”

A skilled striker, Abdulla trains at the Cissé institute, but like everyone else, he still goes to school and the institute keeps track of his academic progress.

“Whenever we finish our homework or oral tests, they ask us to show them our work so that they can see how we are doing at school.”

The next stage is for Cissé to create a training centre for vocational skills, like plumbing and carpentry.  Not everyone at the Cissé Institute can become a professional sportsman, but they can all use football to get on the right path.

Answers:

1.   b

2.   a

3.   a

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Idioms. What do these Stormy Idioms mean?

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Idioms. Answers to Stormy Idioms

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